 Manage pricing strategy and price relationships in all markets and banners from Maine to Florida by leading a team of 10+ Price and Promotional Analyst.  Work with banners and category teams to ensure consistency and congruency across all banners, clusters and categories in execution of pricing strategy.  Frequently communicate the status of price position and financial results to senior management. Lead the projection, budgeting and forecasting process to ensure we meet targeted financial goals. Drove the integration of multiple banners into the category teams. Continuously seek out new and innovative solutions to assist in better managing our business. Responsible for developing, writing and communicating weekly ads, departmental layouts, merchandising notes and plan-o-grams.  Developed annualized and period specific budgets and forecasts in the area of sales, gross profit, shrink and sales distribution.  Project weekly departmental sales and margin, as well as manage weekly pricing for multiple price zones to ensure effective retail competitiveness.  Negotiate, review and evaluate new items, promotional programs, deals and contracts for the category.  Establish and develop vendor relationships and category partnerships with quality growers, packers and shippers.  Regularly use various external and in-house resources and reports to evaluate item selection and variety, category and promotional strategies, retail pricing strategies and plan-o-grams. Adjustments are made as necessary to meet category and corporate objectives.  Work with other departments, such as Training, IT, Accounting, Quality Assurance, Distribution and Corporate Communications on various projects. Routinely communicate with all levels of management, both orally and in writing, to answer questions or inquiries regarding the category.